Player Trades

Mid-October was a busy time for all clubs with the free agency and trade periods commencing. Everything was concluded on the afternoon of October 22.

Under a new rule, the AFL has allowed clubs to trade future draft picks. Each club is allowed to trade just one first round selection and no more than two of these over a four year period. The AFL also created a valuation points system to determine compensation selections for clubs who lose players due to free agency.

FREE AGENT MOVES
Brisbane's Matthew Leuenberger, a restricted free agent, joins Essendon after the Lions opted not to match Essendon's offer for the ruckman. Brisbane receives an end of second round compensation pick (number 39).

Hawthorn's Matt Suckling, an unrestricted free agent, accepted an offer from the Western Bulldogs. The Hawks received an end of round two selection (number 40) as compensation.

Geelong traded Dean Gore, their round one selection (currently number nine) and round two selection (currently number 28) to the Adelaide Crows for Patrick Dangerfield and Adelaide's round three selection (currently number 53).

Geelong made an offer to restricted free agent Scott Selwood (West Coast). West Coast elected not to match the offer. The Eagles received a round two selection (number 37) as compensation. Selwood played 135 games with the Eagles but managed only 25 in the past two years due to ankle injuries.

GWS made an offer to Geelong's unrestricted free agent Dawson Simpson. Geelong does not receive compensation. Simpson managed just 28 games in eight seasons with the Cats.

TRADES

Note: On-traded picks are selections which a club has exchanged with another club in order to improve their draft selections or to facilitate a trade for a player

Western Bulldogs: traded Michael Talia and their round four selection (currently number 69) to the Sydney Swans for their round four 2016 selection.

Gold Coast: traded round two on-traded selection (currently number 35) and round four selection (currently number 61) to Fremantle for round three selection (currently number 56) and 2016 round two selection.

GWS: traded round two selection (currently number 27), round four selection (currently number 66), round five on-traded selection (currently number 77) and round five selection (currently number 84) to Collingwood for round two on-traded selection (currently number 34), round three on-traded selection (currently number 53) and round four on-traded selection (currently number 63).

Carlton: traded Chris Yarran to Richmond for their end of round one on-traded selection (currently number 19). Carlton wanted Richmond's number 12 selection but the Tigers held firm in refusing.

Carlton: traded round two selection (currently number 20), round two on-traded selection (currently number 21) and 2016 round four selection to the Western Bulldogs for their round one selection (currently 11) and 2016 round three selection.

West Coast: traded round two selection (currently number 36) and round two compensation selection (currently number 37) to the Sydney Swans for their round two on-traded selection (currently number 23).

OTHER MOVES
The newly-retired Jared Rivers has joined Collingwood as a development coach. Rivers, who played 194 games with Melbourne and Geelong, had coaching roles during his playing career starting at Xavier College and Geelong's VFL program. He also completed the AFLPA's coaching program. Former Brisbane player Craig McRae, an assistant coach for five years, departed to become coach of Richmond's VFL affiliate Coburg.

Newly-retired Tiger Chris Newman (268 games) has joined Hawthorn as a development coach.

Josh Fraser, who played 218 games for Collingwood and Gold Coast, has been appointed coach of Carlton's VFL team the Northern Blues. Fraser, who retired in 2012, spent 2013 in the media and completed several coaching courses before taking up a role as coach of Gold Coast's NEAFL reserves team.

Simon Lloyd and Brett Kirk have left their positions as assistants at Fremantle with David Hale, Brent Guerra and Anthony Rock joining the coaching panel. Hale played 237 games with North Melbourne and Hawthorn. Guerra has been involved in coaching since he retired in 2013 after 255 games. Rock played 222 games with North and Hawthorn and has spent a decade as a coach at VFL level and with the juniors' TAC teams.

Sydney ruckman Mike Pyke has retired to pursue a career in the corporate world. Pyke, 31, played 110 games for the Swans after being recruited from the Canadian rugby league at the age of 25. He jointed the Swans as an international rookie in 2008 and debuted in 2009. He had a big season in 2012, playing every game from Round Six, including the Grand Final win. Coach John Longmire said it had been a unique and incredible journey for Pyke. "To take up the game as a 25 year old from another professional sport, and to retire a premiership player ... is a really special achievement ... so many players try to cross over to AFL from other sports but few have achieved what Mike has ... He is a talented athlete but it is his incredible drive and determination that has helped him". Pyke said it was the right time to step aside. "I got to the point where I didn’t think I had any more improvement left in me and that’s when you know to step aside and let the younger players come through." He thanked the club and fans for their support over the years and joked about the loud cheers he received when kicked a goal or came off the ground and even about the fans making a joke about being Canadian.